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April 18, 2016

RAN welcomes Indonesian moratorium on palm oil and mining permits

RAN welcomes the announcement of a moratorium on palm oil and mining permits by the Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

This announcement, in the lead up to the signing of the Paris Agreement in NYC where delegates will discuss the urgency of taking action to mitigate climate change, is a sign that Indonesia recognizes the importance of keeping its remaining forests and peatlands intact.

If enforced and extended to apply to forests within existing palm oil concessions this effort to halt the destruction of forests and peatlands––and to stop the forest fires intentionally set to aid the expansion of industrial palm oil development––will reduce Indonesia’s carbon footprint, the severity of the annual haze crisis and secure the lives and livelihoods of countless communities.

Palm oil consumers across the world have clearly expressed their insistence that they no longer want to purchase products made with palm oil connected to the destruction of Indonesia’s forests and peatlands or human and labor rights abuses.

The Indonesian Government and palm oil industry has the opportunity to secure its place as a major global supplier of palm oil by improving the practices of all actors in the palm oil sector and protecting its globally important ecological treasures, including the Leuser Ecosystem.

“The announcement of a moratorium on palm oil and mining permits by the Indonesian President Joko Widodo is a welcome development,” said Gemma Tillack of Rainforest Action Network. “If enforced and extended to apply to forests within existing palm oil concessions this effort to halt the destruction forests and peatlands will reduce Indonesia’s carbon footprint, the severity of the annual haze crisis and secure the lives and livelihoods of countless communities.”